Gird yourselves and weep, O priests! wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. (Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101025.cfm
This passage sounds a lot like Lent, and for good reason: the Prophet Joel is read on Ash Wednesday to call us to prepare for the great day of redemption, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord. We know that the sufferings we endure lead to gospel joy. https://youtu.be/RaH2OWndHjk?si=vcfgY7oqG3xN_k2J Here is a link to the Vatican News article about Pope Leo’s new apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te, On the Love of the Poor: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-10/pope-leo-faith-cannot-be-separated-from-love-for-the-poor.html.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Friday XXVII, Ordinary Time
